ARI @ CIN

1) Dan Haren: 111 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Curveball (3rd), 4 on Cutters (3rd, 5th, 2 in 7th), 5 on Splitters (1st, 2 in 4th, 5th, 6th)

• Haren comes from an over the top release with a 2-seam fastball that some sink and run in on righties, a cutter with some solid cut and a little sink, a split with above average dive that serves as his out pitch and a 12-7 curveball that has good depth, but has flattened out a little lately. He will also throw the occasional straight 4-seam. He will throw any pitch in any count and has plus-plus command of all his offerings, which is amazing.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (80), Split (87-89), Cut (87)

2nd: FB (90-94), CB (79-81), Cut (86-89)

3rd: FB (91-95), CB (79), Cut (87)

4th: FB (89-93), CB (78-79), Split (86), Cut (85-88)

5th: FB (91), CB (78-79), Split (85-87), Cut (86-87)

6th: FB (90-92), CB (78-79), Split (87), Cut (85-86)

7th: FB (89-92), CB (80), Cut (84-88)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 105 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), 2 on Sliders (4th, 6th), Curveball (6th), Changeup (6th), Cutter (2nd)

• Arroyo is a 6-5, 195 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release and will throw pitches anywhere from sidearm to high 3/4. He has a very quiet windup with his patented flamingo kick. His fastball is a 2-seam with good sink and fade, though he will mix in a straight 4-seam on occasion. His changeup has good sink and fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and sink. He will throw frisbee sliders from sidearm and even threw 1 fastball from sidearm. His cutter has some cut, but not a ton. His curveball is a 12-7 offering with solid bite and good depth. You would think throwing every pitch known to man he would have an out pitch, but none of his pitches are very spectacular. He battled his command from hitter to hitter and I would say he is a # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-91), SL (76-77), CU (80-84)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (84-86), CB (72-74), CU (77-83), Frisbee SL (70-74)

3rd: FB (80-90, 80 to Haren when behind in the count), Cut (87), SL (74-77), CU (78), F-SL (78)

4th: FB (87-90), Cut (84-87), CB (71-75), CU (84-85), SL (75-77)

5th: FB (87-90), Cut (89), CB (70-72), CU (80-82), SL (77-80)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (69-74), CU (80-84), SL (77)

3) Carlos Fisher: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (6th, 7th) and Slider (6th)

• Fisher comes from an over the top release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties, but is straight and his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. His cutter has some cut, but can sometime be tough to see with the naked eye.

6th: FB (94-96), SL (82-84), Cut (90-92)

7th: FB (94-97), SL (81-84), Cut (89-93)

4) Jared Burton: 23 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Sliders, 2 on Cutters.

• Burton came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a hard change that has a little fade from lefties.

8th: Cut (87-89), CU (85), SL (82-83), FB (90-92)

5) Tony Pena: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Pena came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam and a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite. His command continues to be a question mark and is extremely erratic from his max effort delivery.

8th: FB (94-96), SL (87-89)

6) Scott Schoeneweis: 1 pitch. No, he hit it.

• Scho comes from a high 3/4 release and threw a straight 4-seam fastball to Joey Votto. He hit it hard for a single.

8th: FB (89)

7) Jon Rauch: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging.

• Rauch comes from an over the top release with a 2-seam fastball with some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite. He will also throw a straight 4-seam and mix in a cutter with some cut.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (85), Cut (88-89)

8) Josh Roenicke: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Roenicke comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a power 12-6 curve (not a slider as I originally had considered, thanks BA Prospect Handbook) and a cutter with some cut and some sink. Watch this kid, he has the looks of a strong major league reliever.

9th: FB (92-95), Cut (86-88), CB (78-79)

9) Chad Qualls: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Qualls comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with excellent run in on righties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (85-88)

• Danny Richar was once the jewel of the Diamondbacks system and now finds himself as a bench player for the Reds. The 6-1, 195 pound lefty hitter, righty swinger has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. The 26 year old has a crouched stance that is similar to Phillips (though not in hand placement). He has a little bat wiggle and doesn't do much for a trigger, just cocking the bat. He is a gap to gap hitter who doesn't show much power. He showed slightly above average speed and looks to have the upside of that of a utilityman, as he just won't have the power or pitch recognition to play everyday.

+/- IP Re-Eval

Removed Jim Mecir, Paul Quantrill and Hector Carrasco from 2000

Removed Ugueth Urbina, Jay Powell, Rod Beck, Billy Wagner and Ricardo Rincon from 2001

Removed Scott Williamson, Antonio Osuna and Valerio De Los Santos from 2002

Removed Dan Miceli, Guillermo Mota, Tom Gordon, Kyle Farnsworth, Matt Mantei, Aaron Fultz and Mariano Rivera from 2003

Removed Ricky Bottalico, Mike Koplove, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Isringhausen, Giovanni Carrara and Josias Manzanillo from 2004

Removed Mike MacDougal, Al Reyes, Russ Springer, Jose Valverde, Bob Wickman, Julio Mateo, Bobby Howry, Brian Fuentes, Brendan Donnelly, Giovanni Carrara and Doug Brocail from 2005

Removed Oscar Villarreal, Rick Bauer, Joe Beimel, Tom Martin, Jon Adkins, Matt Herges, Chad Bradford, Joe Borowski and Ron Mahay from 2006

Removed Jesus Colome, Eric Gagne, Doug Brocail, Antonio Alfonseca, Michael Wuertz, David Riske, Javier Lopez and Rudy Seanez from 2007

Removed Jeff Bennett, Eddie Guardado, Tyler Walker, Ramon Ramirez, B.J. Ryan, Jesse Crain, Octavio Dotel, Arthur Rhodes, Luis Ayala, Manny Delcarmen, Ryan Madson and Huston Street from 2008

The Pirates Trades: Who Wins?

Yankees Get:
Eric Hinske: A very good bench bat, the Yankees did good to acquire another hitter who should help fill a little bit of the void left by Xavier Nady being done for the year. For the price, the Yankees did very well in this analyst's opinion.

Nationals Get:
Nyjer Morgan: a 27 year old OF, Morgan is having a strong season for the expectations that were set in front of him. Hitting mostly 2nd, Morgan is hitting .277-.351-.356 with 18 stolen bases, though he has been caught 10 times. He will immediately (hopefully) play centerfield and allow Elijah Dukes to move to a corner. Morgan is playing at his highest potential however. He is a slap hitter who will never provide a ton of power and I am somewhat wary of him continuing his production. He is a guy who wasn't part of the Pirates future and now moves to a team where he may be the starting CF for quite awhile (more because of their system then his talent).

Sean Burnett: A lefty reliever, Burnett has shown some potential this season with an ERA of 3.06. Burnett is just an extra arm and I don't understand why the Nats want him when 2 of their best relievers this season (Ron Villone and Joe Beimel) are also left handed. Might we be seeing a possible conversion to a starting pitcher?

Pirates Get:
From Yankees
Casey Erickson: Wish I could tell you something about him. Is a 23 year old pitching in Low-A and has appeared in 21 games (3 starts) and is 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA and 13 walks against 37 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Eric Fryer: A 23 year old who is on his 3rd organization this season, he led the SAL in average last season but I never got to see him. In High A, he is .250-.333-.344 and is likely an OF, though there is some talk about catcher. He has good speed, as he has stolen 11 of 16 bases.

From Nationals:
Lastings Milledge: The enigmatic 24 year old has struggled at AAA this season (.253-.277-.316), but is a good risk. The youngster has 5 tool potential and now that he has a change of scenery, he may be ready to break out. I am not sure if he will start in the majors with the Pirates, but I would start him there ahead of recent call-up Garrett Jones (who I saw in Rochester 2 years ago and is just a place holder at best. Solid above average power, but can't hit off-speed stuff inside and changeups give him some trouble). The Pirates need to talk to him and tell him this is his last chance and to work your butt off and we will reward you with major league playing time. If you work.

Joel Hanrahan: Yes, he has struggled, but there is no denying his stuff. This should help him and he just needs to find a way to bring back his old slider.

Analysis:
Yankees: Get a bench bat for a couple mid level prospects. Good deal and Hinske is a tough out hitter who will make pitchers work.

Nationals: I really like Mike Rizzo, but I fail to understand this deal. He got back a MLB outfielder (which they don't really need) and a reliever and gave up a younger OF who has more tools and a reliever who has better stuff then the one they got back. This deal could really come back and bite them if Milledge turns it around.

Pirates: They got as much as they could have for Hinske. I will be surprised if either makes the majors, but at least they continue to stockpile the previously depleted system with some talent and I haven't seen either play, so maybe they are diamonds in the rough. Meanwhile, I really like their package for Morgan/Burnett. Milledge has the chance to be a special talent and will now be allowed to play (corner outfield) and hit (between 5th and 7th), which is where he is a better fit as opposed to CF and leadoff. Hanrahan still has the stuff to be good and I think he will really pitch well in Pittsburgh. If not, it cost them two pieces who weren't in their future anyways.

3 IP Extra Report: 6/29: COL @ LAD

Did 3 innings of this game for a chart to get myself 4 hours of work this morning in preparation of my night game featuring Dan Haren and Bronson Arroyo.

• Randy Wolf is a 5-10, 200 pound lefty. The 32 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with a little run and sink. His curve is a slow, big breaking 12-6 with great depth. His slider comes from the same release point and has the same initial movement, but is sharper and more 11-5. His change is a straight change with a little sink. Solid # 3 starter.

1st: FB (89-91), CB (68-70), SL (79-83) - 1 Fastball

2nd: FB (88-91), CB (66), SL (80), CU (82) - 1 Fastball

3rd: FB (89-92), CB (67-69), SL (80), CU (80-82) - 2 Curveballs

• Ubaldo Jimenez came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a power 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp 2-7 slider that flashes plus bite or can be more of a cutter and move on just one plane and a change with some fade from lefties and sink. Legitimate arm with the potential to be a true ace.

1st: FB (94-97), SL (87-89), CB (76-80) - 1 Curveball

2nd: FB (98-99), SL (87-90), CB (78-81), CU (89) - 1 Curveball, 1 Slider

3rd: FB (96-98), SL (90)

Chart Observations: LAA @ TEX

1) Sean O'Sullivan: 90 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 6 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 3 in 3rd, 4th), Curveball (6th)

• He came from an over the top release with a fastball that is a 2-seam with good sink and a little run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with excellent fade from lefties and some sink. He will throw his change to righties and it is his out pitch. His velocity was down from his MLB debut and looks to project now to a # 4 as opposed to # 3 if he loses the weight.

1st: FB (86-91), CB (77-79), CU (75-76)

2nd: FB (87-90), CB (76-78), CU (76)

3rd: FB (87-90), CB (75-78), CU (75-77)

4th: FB (85-87), CB (76), CU (75)

5th: FB (86-88), CB (75-76), CU (72-75)

6th: FB (86-88), CB (75-79), CU (74-75)

2) Vicente Padilla: 97 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th), Splitter (4th), Curveball (3rd)

• Padilla is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a little bit of bad weight. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink and he will also throw a straight 4-seamer. His split has some dive and can also move like a change. His curveball is a slow, big breaking 12-6 with great depth that is pretty much an eephus pitch. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with pretty good bite. He will throw his split to righties and will also drop down sidearm (once) to throw a curveball that moves like a frisbee slider. Solid # 4 starter who would be much better if he could ever get out of Texas.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (76), Split (83)

2nd: FB (86-91), CB (61)

3rd: FB (85-91), CB (58-72)

4th: FB (87-94), CB (60-73), Split (75-82)

5th: FB (87-93), Split (78-81)

6th: FB (87-91), Split (81)

3) Jason Jennings: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (6th, 2 in 7th)

• Jennings came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good downward bite, a 2-seam fastball with good sink and run in on righties and a change that showed good fade and sink.

6th: FB (87-88), SL (79-82)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (80-81), CU (82)

4) Darren Oliver: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Oliver came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (86-89), SL (77-78)

5) Jason Grilli: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Grilli came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some marginal sink on righties and a slider that is an average 2-7.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

6) Justin Speier: 20 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders

• Speier came from a 3/4 release and showed a sharp slider that moved more like a cutter, a fastball with some run in on righties and a splitter that has some dive.

8th: FB (85-91), SL (82-85), Split (81-82)

7) Eddie Guardado: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

• Guardado came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a slurvy 10-4 slider with okay bite.

9th: FB (84-87), SL (77)

8) Doug Mathis: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Mathis is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium to big frame with the room to add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with a little sink and run in on righties. His curve is his best off-speed pitch and is a big breaking 12-6 with a little bite. His slider is a sharp 1-7 type pitch with some bite. More of a middle reliever who you don't want to pitch while winning and is a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.

9th: FB (89-90), CB (75-77), SL (83)

9) Brian Fuentes: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Fuentes is a slinger from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run in on righties and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (88-90), SL (76)

• Julio Borbon made his major league debut last night. The 6-1, 180 pound lefty is 23 years old. He has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He has a slightly open stance and is slightly crouched. He has a little bat wiggle and his trigger is a cocking of the bat and a step where he stands on his toe a little bit. He is a gap to gap hitter who supposedly has good speed (he DH'd and never hit the ball on the ground, striking out twice and popping out) and his swing can get long. He also has some strides to make in regards to pitch recognition, as he flailed at O'Sullivan's change. He showed a good ability to command the strike zone in AAA (25 BB, 29 K in 302 at bats) so he will likely just need time to do that in the majors. I don't think he will ever hit for much power. Not sure where he fits defensively since I haven't seen him, but his bat will likely only play in center.

Is Chad Billingsley Tired?

As some of you know, I keep an Excel spreadsheet of the pitchers I have seen with their miles per hour. I recently entered in Chad Billingsley and found something interesting. Look at these numbers:
4/8: FB (90-95), SL (87-91), CB (76-81), Cut (88-93)
5/3: FB (88-95), SL (81-83), CB (71-82), Cut (86-91)
6/25: FB (87-93), SL (83-86), CB (67-81), Cut (86-90)

His fastball velocity has dipped. His slider velocity was down in his last 2 starts. His curveball lacked the same bite it had shown in previous outings and was fought off fairly easily by the White Sox (6/25 start).

He is coming off his first career 200 IP season and his groundball rate is down .32 from 1.47 to 1.15. He is on pace to walk roughly 16 more hitters then last season and to strikeout about the same.

Billingsley is still a great pitcher. But will he still be that great pitcher when the playoffs come? The Dodgers better hope so.

NL All Star Team

Love the conversation the AL got. Here are my selections for the NL:

STARTERS
C: This crop is extremely weak. Pablo Sandoval is listed as a 3B, otherwise he would be the runaway choice. We will go with Brian McCann (Braves): .316-.405-.526
1B: Albert Pujols (no commentary necessary, Cardinals): .328-.451-.722
2B: Also an easy choice, Chase Utley (Phillies): .302-.433-.558
3B: A really difficult call between David Wright and Pablo Sandoval (Giants), but Sandoval has a higher OPS, so he gets the nod: .340-.391-.574
SS: Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) beats out Miguel Tejada and Cristian Guzman: .333-.400-.548
OF: Raul Ibanez (Phillies), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Carlos Beltran (Mets): Beltran narrowly beats out Justin Upton. Ibanez had a heck of a season (.312-.371-.656), Braun is raking (.324-.415-.575) and Beltran was putting up huge numbers before going on the DL (.336-.425-.527).
P: Dan Haren (Diamondbacks): I am man enough to admit I was wrong about him and slot him as the starter ahead of some very worthy candidates. He beat out Matt Cain, Yovani Gallardo and Tim Lincecum with his line of 6-5, 2.25 and a miniscule .81 WHIP. The 6 wins may prevent him from being the starter on the night however.


RESERVES (Follow last year's NL team format, 13 pitchers, 2 C, 6 IF, 3 OF, 1 Other)
P: Johan Santana (Mets): 9-5, 3.08
P: Matt Cain (Giants): 9-2, 2.57
P: Chad Billingsley (Dodgers): 9-3, 3.10
P: Yovani Gallardo (Brewers): 8-4, 2.86
P: Tim Lincecum (Giants): 7-2, 2.57
P: Chris Carpenter (Cardinals): 5-2, 1.78 (even with an injury, #'s are too good)
P: Josh Johnson (Marlins): 7-1, 2.76
P: Johnny Cueto (Reds): 8-4, 2.86
P: Zach Duke (Pirates): 8-5, 3.09
P: Heath Bell (Padres): 3-1, 21 sv, 1.39
P: Francisco Rodriguez (Mets): 1-2, 20 sv, 1.23
P: Ryan Franklin (Cardinals): 1-0, 18 sv, 0.93
P: Jonathan Broxton (Dodgers): 6-0, 18 sv, 2.27


C: The NL catchers are complete garbage. However since we need to carry two, my 2 choices are Yadier Molina (Cardinals): .277-.342-.378
C: Russell Martin (Dodgers): .247-.367-.300, leads MLB with 19 CS of 56 attempts (34 %) and his team is in 1st place.


IF: Adrian Gonzalez (Padres): .271-.413-.585
IF: Derrek Lee (Cubs): .289-.371-.483
IF: Freddy Sanchez (Pirates): .313-.351-.478
IF: David Wright (Mets): .342-.432-.487
IF: Miguel Tejada (Astros): .330-.358-.476
IF: Prince Fielder (Brewers): .301-.421-.598


OF: Justin Upton (Diamondbacks): .318-.399-.580
OF: Brad Hawpe (Rockies): .329-.402-.596
OF: Adam Dunn (Nationals): .257-.396-.518


Other: Francisco Cordero (Reds): 0-2, 18 sv, 1.97


Teams with No rep after 1st draft:
Cubs (shocker)


First Cuts (on original, but left out):
Would have been Tejada, as I initially viewed Theriot as the Cubs best rep, but then the Astros would have had zero reps. Ends up being Ryan Howard. Also thought about Ted Lilly replacing Zach Duke.


Evaluation: Cristian Guzman was very deserving, but left out due to me not putting 2 Nats in the All-Star Game and I have decided Adam Dunn would be a better rep. Others snubbed include: Jeremy Affeldt (15 HLDS, 1.59 ERA), Javier Vazquez (due to a 5-7 record), Adam Wainwright (8-5, 3.51), Juan Pierre (Who I will bet is in the real game, .323-.384-.414), Hunter Pence (.316-.389-.513), Ryan Zimmerman (.299-.371-.490), Mark Reynolds (.268-.358-.558), Joey Votto (.351-.449-.609, only 151 AB's due to missing almost a month, otherwise a lock), Todd Helton (.318-.397-.516), Nick Johnson (.300-.410-.430)


Lets get more feedback here.

Chart Observations: CHC @ CHW

1) John Danks: 110 pitches. 15 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (1st, 2nd), 6 on Cutters (2nd, 3rd, 2 in 5th, 6th, 7th) and 7 on Changeups (2 in 1st, 4th, 4 in 6th)

• Danks comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties, a change has good fade and sink, a cutter that has above average cut and some sink and a curve that is a big breaking 11-4. Borderline ace.

1st: FB (87-93), Cut (87-88), CU (82-85)

2nd: FB (87-92), Cut (86-87), CU (83), CB (76)

3rd: FB (87-91), Cut (85)

4th: FB (91-93), Cut (88), CU (79-84)

5th: FB (88-91), Cut (85-87), CB (75-77)

6th: FB (89-91), Cut (84-87), CU (80-84), CB (75)

7th: FB (91-92), Cut (86-87), CU (81-82)

2) Carlos Zambrano: 97 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (3rd, 2 in 4th), Cutter (4th)

• Zambrano is a 6-5, 255 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has good run in on righties, a split that shows good fade to lefties and sink that he will throw to righties and likes to use as his out pitch. His cutter has some cut, but not much. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite that he will hang. More of a # 2 starter now.

1st: FB (87-92), Split (86)

2nd: FB (89-93), Split (84-85), Cut (87-93)

3rd: FB (91-95), Split (84-87), Cut (87), SL (80-85)

4th: FB (87-92), Cut (88-92)

5th: FB (88-92), Split (82-85), Cut (88-91), SL (80)

6th: FB (88-91), Cut (87-88)

3) David Patton: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (6th)

• Patton comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run and sink, a power 12-6 curve with solid depth and his change has good fade from lefties and some sink. Solid middle reliever.

6th: FB (90-92), CB (80)

7th: FB (90-93), CB (77-80), CU (86)

4) Scott Linebrink: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (8th), Changeup (8th)

• Linebrink comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball that has some run but is fairly straight. His change has some fade and sink from lefties and his splitter moves like a curveball and has excellent dive.

8th: FB (93-95), CU (83-84), Split (80-81)

9th: FB (92-94), CU (82-84), Split (81)

5) Kevin Hart: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Hart is a 6-4, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a classic drop and drive delivery with a little herky-jerky action in his break, which he tries to do as fast as possible it appears. He comes from an over the top release. He has a straight 4-seam fastball and also throws a 2-seamer that shows some run and sink. His change has some fade and sink from lefties. His cutter has some cut and a little sink while his curve is a 12-6 with solid depth. He has a good fastball, but none of his off-speed pitches grade as more then above average. Looks like he could be a solid bullpen arm.

8th: FB (91-95), Cut (86-88), CB (78-80), CU (88-89)

Chart Observations: NYM @ NYY

1) Chien-Ming Wang: 85 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Slider (1st), Splitter (3rd), Fastball (4th)

• Wang is a 6-3, 230 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He comes from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. He pauses at the top of his windup and slows down during his leg kick. His fastball is a 2-seam sinker with inconsistent movement, showing plus run in on righties with sink or being a flat pitch in the middle of the plate. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite. It flashes plus bite and also can be dead straight and a spinning pitch. His change has some fade from lefties and a little sink. His split has more fade and the same amount of sink as his changeup. Wang is showing signs of returning to the ace he had been prior to this season. He needs to improve his command and regain the consistency of his slider.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (83-84)

2nd: FB (91-94), Split (85-87), CU (83)

3rd: FB (92-93), Split (86), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (92-95), SL (82-84), Split (87), CU (84)

5th: FB (90-94), SL (84), Split (86-87)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (80-82)

2) Livan Hernandez: 116 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Slider (2nd), Changeup (3rd)

• Hernandez is a 6-2, 245 pound righty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release with a quiet windup. His fastball is a 2-seam with above average run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with some bite. His curveball is a slow, big breaking 12-6 pitch with good depth. His change has some sink and fade from lefties that he will throw to righties. He will also mix in a rare cutter in the low 80's. Solid # 5 starter who can only pitch in the NL.

1st: FB (83-87), SL (78-83), CB (61-67), CU (81)

2nd: FB (82-86), SL (80-81), CU (75-78)

3rd: FB (84-87), SL (77-79), CB (68), CU (78-81)

4th: FB (83-86), SL (79-81), CU (78), Cut (83-84)

5th: FB (84-87), SL (79)

6th: FB (84-87), SL (78-82)

7th: FB (82-86), SL (79), CU (78-79), CB (63-70)

3) Phil Coke: 6 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Coke is a 6-1, 210 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a 4-seam fastball wtih a little run in on righties and a 11-5 slider with good bite. Has the looks of someone who can be a multiple inning reliever, but is probably best used as a LOOGY.

6th: FB (92-93), SL (81)

4) Phil Hughes: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Hughes came from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release wiht a fastball that is a straight 4-seam, a cutter that has some cut and a power 12-6 curve with good depth.

6th: Cut (89)

7th: FB (93-95), CB (77)

5) Pedro Felicano: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Feliciano is a sidearmer who has a fastball that shows good run in on righties, a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite and a cutter that has good cut and some sink.

8th: FB (87-89), Cut (84-85), SL (76-77)

6) Sean Green: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Green is a sidearmer who shows a fastball that has good run and sink in on righties and a sweeping 2-6 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (89-91), SL (74-75)

7) Brian Bruney: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

• Bruney comes from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball that flashes some run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (93-95), SL (88-90)

8) Francisco Rodriguez: 38 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup, Curveball.

• K-Rod comes from an over the top release with a fastball that has some run in on righties a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with excellent fade and sink.

9th: FB (88-95), CB (76-82), CU (84-87)

9) Mariano Rivera: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter (9th)

• Rivera came from an over the top release with a cutter that has excellent cut that he can spot.

8th: Cut (92-94)

9th: Cut (91-93)

Evaluating the DeRosa Deal

Cardinals Side: They acquire a multi position player (somewhere, Tony La Russa is jumping with joy) who has a lot of pop and can hit for average. DeRosa has remade himself into a legitimate super utility starter. He can help the Cards at 2B, 3B and the OF and La Russa will have a lot of fun moving him around to bring in some of his double switch favorites (Brian Barden, Skip Schumaker to CF, Joe Thurston). A great pick up for St. Louis.

Indians Side: Without knowing the PTBNL, we can only judge this with Chris Perez and Cleveland picked up a great young arm for the problem spot of their team. Perez should slot right in as the top setup man to Kerry Wood and overtake him maybe by next year. Perez is still somewhat raw, with a slider that can flatten out and some command issues, but the Indians bullpen is much better with him and recent acquiree Jose Veras then with some of the slop they have been running out there.

AL All Star Team

Here is my All-Star Team for the AL:
STARTERS
C: Joe Mauer - Is there really another choice? .394-.468-.691
1B: Miguel Cabrera - .340-.391-.573 is enough to be a starter
2B: Ian Kinsler - A really tough decision between him and Aaron Hill, but Kinsler wins out due to his stolen bases (16) and the more power he provides. .272-.351-.527
3B: Evan Longoria - .307-.386-.580 is enough to make him the class of the AL.
SS: Jason Bartlett - Even though he missed some time with a stint on the DL, there isn't really another choice (.366-.404-.566)
OF: Jason Bay, Torii Hunter, Ichiro Suzuki - Both Bay and Hunter have had amazing seasons (Bay (.278-.387-.550, 19 HR's), Hunter (.308-.385-.587, 17 HR's)) and Suzuki is currently hitting .375-.405-.505.
P: Zach Greinke - Was the best starter for most of the 1st half.

RESERVES (Will be done according to last years rosters, so 11 more pitchers, 2 C, 6 IF, 3 OF, 1 OTHER)
P: Roy Halladay: 10-1, 2.53 (Blue Jays)
P: Felix Hernandez: 8-3, 2.54 (Mariners)
P: Edwin Jackson: 6-4, 2.40 (Tigers)
P: Jered Weaver: 8-3, 2.65 (Angels)
P: Mark Buerhle: 7-2, 3.26 (White Sox)
P: Justin Verlander: 8-3, 3.40 (Tigers)
P: Joe Nathan: 1-1, 18 sv, 1.52 (Twins)
P: Jonathan Papelbon: 1-1, 18 sv, 1.91 (Red Sox)
P: George Sherrill: 0-1, 16 sv, 2.05 (Orioles
P: Brian Fuentes: 0-2, 21 sv (MLB Leader), 3.91 (Angels)
P: Andrew Bailey: 4-1, 2.18 (Athletics)

C: Victor Martinez: .323-.402-.538 (Indians)
C: No real obvious choice here, but we will go with Jorge Posada: .271-.361-.516 (Yankees)

IF: Brandon Inge: .271-.364-.514 (Tigers)
IF: Aaron Hill: .304-.343-.495 (Blue Jays)
IF: Chone Figgins: .321-.401-.412, 23 SB's (Angels)
IF: Mark Teixeira: .277-.387-.576 (Yankees)
IF: Derek Jeter: .308-.377-.451 (Yankees)
IF: Russell Branyan: .302-.399-.613 (Mariners)

OF: Adam Lind: .310-.387-.551 (Blue Jays)
OF: Jermaine Dye: .285-.354-.556 (White Sox)
OF: Carl Crawford: .314-.372-.442 (Rays)

Other: Ben Zobrist: .286-.402-.626 (Rays)

Teams That Didn't Have Anyone Originally:
Orioles

First Cuts (Player on Original Team, but got booted to satisfy 1 player per team requirement)
David Aardsma (Mariners): I believe George Sherrill was the best choice for the Orioles, barely ahead of Adam Jones.

Evaluation: Several deserving players, such as wins guys Kevin Slowey and Tim Wakefield (each tied with 10), Carlos Pena (who has 23 HR's, lost out to Russell Branyan), Nelson Cruz (18 HR's), Justin Morneau (16 HR's, .310-.390-.556), Scott Rolen (.329-.392-.479) got left out even my original list.

Jeter made the team due to its needing a backup SS. Fuentes made it due to being MLB's SV leader and those rarely get left out of All-Star Games, even though Aardsma has had a better year. Andrew Bailey was my choice as the A's rep.

Reaction? Who do you believe got snubbed and should have been a starter/on the team?

Chart Observations: CHC @ CHW

1) Mark Buerhle: 108 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Slider (4th), 3 Changeups (1st, 2nd, 5th) and 2 on Cutters (2nd, 4th)

• Buerhle is a 6-2, 230 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His 4-seam fastball is straight. His 2-seam fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His change has good sink and a little fade away from righties. His curve is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth. His cutter moves a little bit like a slider and is a 10-4 offering. He has plus command and can locate all his pitches. He is a guy dealing with an incredibly small margin of error, especially with his home ballpark. When he starts slipping, it will be an instant. But, he could also be a Jamie Moyer who pitches until he is 40.

1st: FB (85-88), Cut (82-87), CU (78-80), CB (72)

2nd: FB (85-87), Cut (84-87), CU (77-79), SL (81)

3rd: FB (86-89), Cut (82-84), CU (79-81)

4th: FB (85-86), Cut (80-83), CU (77-78), SL (83)

5th: FB (85-88), Cut (82-86), CU (77-81)

6th: FB (83-85), Cut (82-86), CU (76)

2) Ryan Dempster: 104 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (4th, 2 in 5th)

• Dempster is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He has a glove wiggle to mask him setting up his splitter. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He shows a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite. His split has solid dive.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (84-86), Split (82)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (82-87)

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (84), Split (81-82)

4th: FB (90-92), SL (83-86), Split (79)

5th: FB (88-93), SL (83-86), Split (82-83)

3) Aaron Heilman: 39 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (6th, 7th), 2 Sliders (7th), 2 Changeups (7th)

• Heilman comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run in on righties and a little sink. His change shows good fade and sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite. He will throw his change to righties. Still has a dominant FB-CU combination.

6th: FB (91-94), CU (84-85)

7th: FB (91-93), CU (83-86), SL (80-83)

4) D.J. Carrasco: 30 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), 2 Cutters (6th, 7th)

• Carrasco came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in righties. He will throw his sidearm frisbee slider as his out pitch and a cutter that shows good late cut and some sink. His curve is a solid 12-6 pitch with good depth. Solid long reliever.

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (88-89), SL (71)

7th: FB (89-91), Cut (89-90), SL (79-80)

8th: FB (90), Cut (88-90), CB (79)

5) Carlos Marmol: 26 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good sink and run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. None of his command issues cropped up in this game.

8th: FB (90-94), SL (80-84)

6) Aaron Poreda: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Poreda came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run and sink in on righties.

8th: FB (92-94)

7) Octavio Dotel: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider

• Dotel came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some good cut, sink and some late life, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a loopy 2-8 curve.

8th: FB (91-94), SL (81-82), CB (77)

8) Bobby Jenks: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Jenks came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that had some run in on righties and a little sink, a hard, sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a sharp 11-5 curve.

9th: FB (91-98), SL (89), CB (84-86)

9) Sean Marshall: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marshall came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 11-5 cutter that just keeps going down, a big breaking 11-5 curve with good depth and a sharp 11-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (91), SL (85), Cut (85-90), CB (74-76)

10) Jose Ascanio: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Ascanio is a 6-0, 170 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a curve that moves the same, but is slower.

9th: FB (94-97), CB (79), SL (87)

Chart Observations: NYY @ NYM

1) A.J. Burnett: 108 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (4th, 7th) and 10 on Curves (2 in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 3 in 6th, 7th)

• Burnett came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a plus power curve that was a sharp 12-6, 1-7 pitch with above average depth and a change that showed above average sink and fade from lefties that he will throw to righties. Burnett was simply dominant, as he generated those 10 swings and misses on curves after throwing 34 of them, a 29 % swing and miss rate.

1st: FB (94-96), CB (82-83)

2nd: FB (93-95), CB (78-83)

3rd: FB (93-95)

4th: FB (93-95), CB (80-82), CU (87)

5th: FB (92-96), CB (79-83), CU (88)

6th: FB (93-94), CB (80-83), CU (87)

7th: FB (93-94), CB (80-82), CU (87-88)

2) Tim Redding: 102 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 4th, 5th) and a Slider (1st)

• Redding came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and sink in on righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a change with some fade and a little sink from lefties and a slurvy 12-6 to 2-7 curve with okay depth. Redding mixed speeds and eye level very well until the 6th, where he started the leaving the ball at the belt consistently.

1st: FB (88-92), SL (83-85), CB (77), CU (82)

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (83), CB (75-77), CU (82)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (82-85), CB (73-75)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (86), CB (75-77), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (90-92), CB (74-77), CU (83)

6th: FB (89-91), SL (82-85), CB (76)

3) Brian Stokes: 25 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeups (6th)

• Stokes came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball that falshed run and a little sink and a change with excellent fade and sink from lefties. The one curve he threw was overthrown and garbage.

6th: FB (95-96), CU (78-83)

7th: FB (93-96), CU (81-84), CB (80)

4) Pat Misch: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Misch is a 6-2, 195 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add quite a bit more muscle to his frame. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His slider has a sweeping 10-4 action with some bite. His change has some sink and run in on righties. His curve is an 11-5 pitch with solid depth. He is a tweener, not enough fastball to be a consistent starter and no real out pitch to be a reliever.

8th: FB (85-86), CB (74), CU (77-80), SL (84-85)

5) Brian Bruney: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bruney came from an over the top release with a fastball that had some run in on righties and a little sink and a 2-7 slider that is sharp with good bite. They just wanted to get their 8th inning setup man some work.

8th: FB (92-94), SL (88)

6) Elmer Dessens: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Dessens is a 5-11, 200 pound righty. The 38 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run and a little sink in on righties. His change shows good fade from lefties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. He has solid command, but is just a temporary solution type pitcher.

9th: FB (87-91), SL (84-85), CU (79-84), CB (75)

7) David Robertson: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Robertson comes from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a power 12-6 curve with good depth. You have to like these Yankees relievers who all have strikeout stuff and average to above average command.

9th: FB (87-92), CB (76-78)

• Argenis Reyes is a 5-10, 165 pound 26 year old. The switch hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that can get up to at least 175. From the left side, he has an open stance that is fairly straight up and holds the bat somewhat in front of his back shoulder and moves the bat in a circle as he awaits the pitch. Trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride. He is a utility infielder and not much more.

KC @ PIT

The LAA vs. ARI game was in the FOX time slot, so it was blacked out everywhere. I just did the play by play for it. With that in mind, here is the other games observations:

1) Paul Maholm: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (both in 2nd), 1 on a Curve (4th) and 2 on Changeups (3rd, 6th)

• Maholm is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and sink. His slider is an 11-4 pitch with solid bite. His change is a straight change with some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 pitch that can be flat. He is a middle of the rotation starter (# 3, # 4) guy masquerading as an ace. Useful pitcher when he has above average defense behind him, as he won't walk many.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (80), CU (82)

2nd: FB (87-90), SL (80-81), CB (74)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (75-83), CU (84-85), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-89), CU (83-84), CB (73-75)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (81), CB (75)

6th: FB (89-91), SL (82), CU (83-85), CB (74-75)

7th: FB (89-90), CU (83-85), CB (73-74)

2) Bruce Chen (Seriously?): 76 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), Changeup (4th)

• Chen is a 6-1, 215 pound lefty who has seemingly been around forever. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His 2-seam fastball has some sink and run (typically 83-86) had some run in on righties and some sink. His 4-seam (87-89) was straight. His curve was a big breaking 11-5 and his changeup was a straight change with some late fade from righties and sink. He was primarily FB-CU with a few curves mixed in. He got into a pattern of, when he threw a first pitch strike with a FB, of immediately coming back with a changeup. He works fast and has above average command. Basically, he will be hammered by AL teams that have an idea at the plate. Emergency arm.

1st: FB (84-88), CU (76-77), CB (73-76)

2nd: FB (84-88), CU (76-77)

3rd: FB (83-89), CU (76-79)

4th: FB (84-89), CU (76-77), CB (74-79)

5th: FB (83-88), CB (73-77)

6th: FB (85-88), CB (76-79)

7th: FB (84-86), CU (76)

3) Roman Colon: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good downward bite, though he will hang them. His fastball command was also off and he showed his Jekyll and Hyde side in this game.

7th: FB (93-94), SL (80-82)

4) John Grabow: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, 1 Changeup.

• Grabow is a 6-2, 205 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is an 11-5 offering with good bite that is slightly above average when on, but it can be flat. His change showed some fade from righties and a little sink. Solid full inning lefty reliever.

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82-84), CU (83-84)

5) John Bale: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties, a slurvy 10-5 curve with solid depth and bite and a straight change. He will also throw pitches from a high 3/4 release.

8th: FB (87-89), CB (70-72), CU (78-80)

6) Jeff Karstens: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (on a debatable check swing)

• Karstens is a 6-3, 185 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 205. He comes from an over the top release that hides the ball well, as his glove hand breaks high and covers the spot where he will be releasing it, a la Jair Jurrjens. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite and his curve is a 12-6 with good depth. He lost his job in the rotation and is more of a swingman and is a borderline 4-A arm.

9th: FB (87-91), SL (79), CB (71)

2 charts and a baseball game tomorrow.

Chart Observations: DET @ HOU

1) Justin Verlander: 118 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (3 in 1st, 2nd, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 6th) and 2 on changeups (both in 1st)

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and a little sink in on righties, a change with excellent fade and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth and bite and a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite, but not much. He will throw changes to righties and only threw the slider to righties, mostly Hunter Pence. Verlander's command wasn't as good as it has been and he was pitching to the middle of the plate quite a bit.

1st: FB (93-100), CB (77-83), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (92-96), CB (78), CU (83)

3rd: FB (91-99), CB (79-83), CU (83), SL (88)

4th: FB (92-96), CB (77-80)

5th: FB (92-94), CB (77), CU (81), SL (87)

6th: FB (93-97), CB (78-81), CU (84)

2) Wandy Rodriguez: 106 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Curves (both in 2nd) and a Change (1st)

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a big breaking 11-5 curve with good depth and a straight change with a little sink. I am not a huge fan, as his command is erratic and doesn't have a true out pitch. He is a # 3 or # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (75-78), CU (85-87)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (78), CU (85)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (88-90), CB (74-77)

5th: FB (88-93), CB (75-81), CU (83)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (73-76)

3) Nate Robertson: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• The Tigers latest attempt to make Nate Robertson relevant is to use him as a loogy. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some sink and a little run in on righties. He is a long reliever and doesn't make a good LOOGY due to him not having a dominant off speed pitch for lefties.

6th: FB (86-88)

4) Zach Miner: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miner is a 6-3, 200 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium to big frame that is nearly maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with excellent run in on righties and has some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. His change has a little fade and sink that he will throw to righties. His curve is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth. He is in the perfect role for him, to pitch the 6th and 7th to get them to their end game guys. May be able to hold a Scot Shields type role for a couple of years.

6th: FB (93-94), SL (83)

7th: FB (92-95), SL (81), CU (81), CB (74)

5) Alberto Arias: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curve (both in 7th)

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a power 12-6 curve and a fastball with excellent run and sink in on righties. Still a fan of this guy.

7th: FB (92-96), CB (80-83)

8th: FB (92-94), CB (80-82)

6) Tim Byrdak: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 11-4 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (84-85)

7) Chris Sampson: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good run and sink in on righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a 2-7 curve that had some depth and was slower then his slider.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (81-84), CB (76)

8) Joel Zumaya: 30 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Zumaya is a 6-3, 210 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball is a dead straight 4-seam that can flash some run in on righties. He has a classic drop and drive delivery and alsoo shows a 1-8 power curve with good depth. His command was a question in this outing, but his mechanics appear to be pretty clean. Future closer.

7th: CB (80-81)

8th: FB (99-102), CB (80-82)

9) Freddy Dolsi: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Dolsi is a 6-0, 160 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He is your typical long and lanky pitcher. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has excellent run in on righties while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with okay bite. He was in the middle of the plate with his fastball and struggles to command it due to the movement he generates with it. He is a solid middle reliever who could be a set-up man if he figures out his fastball command.

8th: FB (95), SL (86)

10) LaTroy Hawkins: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Hawkins came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp slider that moves more like a cutter and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (88-90), CB (79-81)

Chart Observations: LAD @ CHW

1) Chad Billingsley: 107 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 6th), 1 on a Curveball (1st), 5 on Sliders (2nd, 4th, 5th, 2 in 6th), 2 on Cutters (3rd, 5th)

• He is a 6-1, 245 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has a little run in on righties and I believe was down from his typical velocity. His cutter has above average cut with a little sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth and bite that can be a strike out pitch, but the White Sox hitters were able to continue to foul the balls off. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with above average bite that was his out pitch to most righties. His cutter flattened out in the 4th. Obviously Jeff Weaver has had an effect on him, as he dropped down sidearm to throw a fastball. He worked with plus command and did a nice job of locating.

1st: FB (89-93), CB (79), Cut (88-90)

2nd: FB (89-91), CB (67-77), Cut (89-90), SL (85)

3rd: FB (89-92), CB (79-80), Cut (87-89), SL (85)

4th: FB (89-92), CB (79-80), Cut (86-87), SL (85)

5th: FB (88-92), CB (69-81), Cut (87-89), SL (84-86)

6th: FB (87-93), CB (80-81), Cut (88-89), SL (83-84)

2) Clayton Richard: 85 Pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Slider (2nd), 3 on changeups (All in 4th) and 1 on a cutter (2nd)

• Richard is a 6-5, 240 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery, though he is more of a slinger arm action. His 2-seam fastball has some run in on righties and flashes some sink and his 4-seam is straight that he really only used when throwing a high fastball. His cutter has some cut and a little sink. His change has some fade from righties and sink and is his best off-speed offering. His slider is a slurvy 11-4 with solid bite. He got a lot of hype for being in the Jake Peavy deal, but I am undecided on him. He likely isn't going to start throwing any harder and his stuff is just average in my opinion. I think he is a # 4, # 5 type starter.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (89-94), Cut (84-89), SL (80-84), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (87-93), CU (81-84)

4th: FB (89-92), Cut (86), SL (79), CU (79-84)

5th: FB (88-90), CU (81)

3) D.J. Carrasco: 39 Pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Sliders (5th, 6th) and a Fastball (6th)

• Carrasco came from an over the top release with a cutter that has some cut, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and sink that he threw more then he usually does. He also showed a 1-7 curve with good bite. He will throw a frisbee (we chart curve, I will call it a slider) when he drops down with 2 strikes to right handers. He will also throw a fastball from the same angle that is usually 86-88. He is very consistent with using this frisbee slider as his out pitch to righties and they must be ready for it. His change has some fade, but is below average.

5th: FB (89-91), Cut (88), CB (80), SL (72)

6th: FB (86-92), Cut (89-90), SL (71)

7th: FB (88-93), Cut (88-90), CB (80), SL (73), CU (80)

4) Ronald Belisario: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has excellent run in on righties and above average sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite that can flatten out and he needs to improve his consistency with this pitch.

7th: FB (93-96), SL (85-87)

8th: FB (94-96), SL (85)

5) Scott Linebrink: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Linebrink is a 6-2, 210 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some late run and sink in on righties. His split has great late downward movement and can be confused with a curve (shockingly), but the one he threw went about 45 feet. His change is a straight change with a litle sink.

8th: FB (93-95), CU (83-84), Split (84)

6) Brent Leach: 16 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 curve with good depth that is a little slurvy, a straight 4-seam fastball and has added a 11-5 slider that is sharp with some break. His command is very inconsistent and is what is holding him back from being the # 1 lefty for the Dodgers.

8th: FB (92-93), CB(78)

9th: FB (92), SL (87-88)

7) Matt Thornton: 13 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thornton is a massive 6-6, 235 pound lefty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 10-4 slider with some bite. One of the best lefty relievers in the game.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (89)

8) Ramon Troncoso: 27 Pitches, 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (Both in 9th) and a curve (10th)

• Troncoso is a 6-1, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release with a high effort delivery where he breaks his hands fairly high. His fastball has excellent run and flashes sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth and can be a K pitch. The combination of his excellent movement of his fastball and his mechanics lead me to believe he may struggle to consistently throw strikes.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (77-78)

10th: FB (91-94), CB (77-79)

9) Bobby Jenks: 18 Pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs, Slider

• Jenks is a 6-3, 275 man beast who is maxed out and has some bad weight (there is a gut). The 28 year old righty came from an over the top release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with solid bite. Above average closer.

10th: FB (93-96), SL (89-90)

10) Jeff Weaver: 57 Pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2 in 11th, 13th), Slider (12th)

• Weaver came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run and sink in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink, but fairly straight, a 2-8 curve with okay depth and a frisbee 3-8 slider from sidearm or a sharp 2-7 from his normal release with solid bite. He will drop down sidearm to throw sliders and fastballs and appears to do this whenever he feels the need to F with hitters, as there is no distinguishable pattern, though he does like the drop down slider with 2 strikes, but isn't as committed to it as Carrasco. His stuff has regressed and he gets by with deception and command.

11th: FB (88-93), SL (79-82), CU (80), CB (73-76)

12th: FB (88-92), SL (79-84), CU (79), CB (75)

13th: FB (87-92), SL (79-81), CU (82)

11) Octavio Dotel: 23 Pitches. 7 (!) strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (11th, 5 in 12th), Slider (12th)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with natural cut and sink and has great late life, a 2-7 curve with solid depth and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (92-94), CB (78-81)

12th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84)

12) Aaron Poreda: 14 Pitches. 5 (!) strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs, Slider.

• Poreda is a 6-6, 240 pound man child. The # 2 prospect for the White Sox prior to the start of the season, the 22 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release and generates easy velocity from a clean delivery with good arm action. His fastball (a surprise to me) was not a huge velocity pitch and had quite a bit natural cut and sink, though it does explode out of his hand. His slider is a slurvy 11-5 with good bite. He can be very special as a reliever, though I think it would be as more of a set-up man then a Billy Wagner style closer. Will be interesting to see if he becomes Joba Chamberlain and becomes a starter after this apprenticeship or a Jonathan Papelbon and stay a reliever. Pray he doesn't become Brandon Morrow and is allowed to settle into 1 role. This was his first major league win.

13th: FB (90-94), SL (77)

I never said this before, but if you want to know how someone played that I didn't mention, feel free to ask. Just because I didn't write a report on them doesn't mean I didn't study their at bats.

6/24 Score: KC @ HOU

Been really busy the last couple of days working on an extra project for BIS, but here is the 2 things that haven't yet been added:

1) Luke Hochevar: 93 strikes. 10 strikes swinging. 9 on sliders (4 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3 in 7th) and 1 on a curveball (5th).

• He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run and sink and is more of a late action pitch. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite that he started on the outside corner and let the Astros flail at it. He starts his windup with the back of his left foot up and his right foot is already turned. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth that he didn't start using until the 2nd time through the order. For a pitcher who relies on a sinker, the lack of swing and misses has to be concerning. His upside is that of a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (83-86)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (83-85)

4th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85), CB (73-74)

5th: FB (92-94), SL (83-86), CB (75-76)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (83-84), CB (76)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (82-85), CB (75)

2) Roy Oswalt: 106 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 3 in 5th, 3 in 6th), 3 on Curveballs (3rd, 2 in 4th) and 2 on Sliders (4th, 6th)

• Roy is a 6-0 190 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run in on righties and it flashes some sink, though he will also throw a harder one that is straight. His curveball is a 12-5 with solid depth and he throws it all over the place velocity wise. His curveball looks like a fastball out of his hand until it breaks downward. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite. His change has some fade and sink, but is his 4th pitch. Ace stuff still, but his pitch counts have been high both games I have seen him this year, making him more of a very strong # 2.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (71-72)

2nd: FB (93-95), CB (70-80)

3rd: FB (93-94), CB (64-77), SL (85)

4th: FB (93-96), CB (68-72), SL (84-85)

5th: FB (92-94), CB (70-71), SL (83), CU (81)

6th: FB (90-96), CB (65-78), SL (84-86)

3) Chris Sampson: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Swingman.

7th: FB (89-90), SL (83), CB (77-78)

4) Latroy Hawkins: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, big breaking 12-6 curve and a straight change that may have been a spinning slider (I don't study pitches as much in scores as I do in charts). He is back to the old Minnesota Hawkins and Ed Wade got a lot of grief for this deal at the time, but it looks good (the player they dealt, Matt Cusick, is hitting .266-.350-.379 in High A)

8th: FB (94-95), CB (80-81), CU (87)

5) Kyle Farnsworth: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with solid cut. He left the game with an apparent groin injury and he went to the ground immediately.

8th: FB (96-97), Cut (90)

6) Jamey Wright: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and probably wasn't fully loose when he decide to start pitching. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties and some sink. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth.

8th: FB (88-94), CB (78-80)

7) Jose Valverde: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Valverde comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a split with solid dive. He also threw a 2-7 slider with good bite. It is possible some of these mile per hours for his sliders were splitters, as they can look similar when you aren't paying great attention to the pitch.

9th: FB (94-98), SL (85-87), Split (84-87)

8) Roman Colon: 14 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Splitter and 2 Sliders

• He came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little late run, a sharp 1-7 slider with good bite and a split that had some dive. His stuff hasn't ever been a question and now that he can just focus on short spurts, he should fulfill his potential and flashes the ability to be a late inning reliever.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (80-84), Split (89)

9) Tim Byrdak: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider, Changeup.

• He came from a high 3/4 release. Another guy whose changeup and slider could be different. His change is a straight change that he will throw to lefties, his slider is a 10-5 with okay bite and his fastball is a straight 4-seam. Maybe a 2nd lefty, I have never been enamored with his stuff.

10th: FB (88-91), SL (82-85), CU (84)

10) Joakim Soria: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had some run in on righties, thought it could straighten out. His change has good fade and sink and he will throw it to righties and is his best off-speed offering. His curve is a 12-6 with good depth and his slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite.

10th: FB (90-92), CU (84-86), CB (70), SL (79)

11) Jeff Fulchino: 23 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and sink, a split with good dive and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

11th: FB (91-95), SL (79-84), Split (85-87)

12) John Bale: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change with some late sink and an 11-5 curve with good depth and bite. Interesting that he was the choice over Juan Cruz to save the game and this was his 1st big league save.

11th: FB (91-92), CB (73-74), CU (82)

70-79 IP Re-Eval Pt. 2

Following Changes Were Made


Tom Gordon's 1999 result change from somewhat worse to Worse (129)


Eric Plunk's 2000 results changed from Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to him retiring.

Doug Jones's 2001 results changed from Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to him retiring.

Steve Kline's 2002 result changed from somewhat better to Somewhat Worse (32)

Jay Powell's 2002 results changed from Somewhat Better/Same to Worse (71), Worse

Todd Van Poppel's 2003 results changed from Somewhat Better/Worse to N/A, N/A due to starts

Brian Fuentes's 2004 results changed from Somewhat Worse/Same to Worse (69), Worse

Brendan Donnelly's 2004 result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (83)

Jesse Crain's 2006 result changed from Somewhat Better to Better

Lance Cormier's 2006 results changed from Somewhat Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to starts.

Travis Harper's 2006 result changed from Better to Somewhat Worse (59)

Danys Baez's 2006 result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (39)

Jose Mesa's 2007 results changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47)

Brandon Medders's 2007 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse (pitched 30 games).

Huston Street's 2007 result changed from Somewhat Worse (DL) to Worse (71)

Gary Majewski's 2007 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse (pitched in 30 games).

Chris Bootcheck's 2008 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse (52)

Luis Vizcaino's 2008 result changed from Somewhat Better to Worse (64)

Dave Borkowski's 2008 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse

Scott Linebrink's 2008 result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (37)

70-79 IP Re-Eval Part 1

The following changes were made:


Chuck McElroy removed from 2001 due to having 5 starts that season


Jeff Fassero added to 2001


Graeme Lloyd Results added to 2001

Rocky Biddle removed from 2004 due to having 5 starts

Lance Cormier Results removed from 2006

Joe Borowski Removed from 2007

Chart Observations: SD @ SEA

1) Chad Gaudin: 113 pitches, 15 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 4th, 5th), 11 Sliders (1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 6th, 4 in 7th) and 1 Changeup (1st)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball that he has better command of, a change with excllent fade and alte sink and a 3-8 slider that can have good late bite or can move like a cutter with little downward action. He spotted his slider very well and started it on the outside corner to righties and let the movement take it out of their swing path. Another 11 strikeout game that wasn't dominant.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (79-82), CU (86)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79-83), CU (87)

3rd: FB (91-92), SL (81), CU (87)

4th: FB (91-92), SL (81-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (79-83)

6th: FB (88-94), SL (80-83)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (78-82)

2) Garrett Olson: 82 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 1 on Curveball (3rd) and 1 on Fastball (5th)

• He is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 25 year ol has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball has some run in on lefties and flashes some late sink, but is inconsistent and most of the time is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a sharp 11-5 wtih good depth and late bite. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw 2-0, but he doesn't have good command of it. He shows good command of his fastball-curveball combo, but doesn't have a true 3rd pitch. Swingman.

1st: FB (90-91), CB (80)

2nd: FB (88-90), CB (79)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (79-81)

4th: FB (89-90), CB (80), CU (82)

5th: FB (88-91), CB (76-81), CU (82)

6th: FB (89-91), CB (79-81), CU (81)

3) Roy Corcoran: 35 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He is a 5-10, 185 pound righty. The 29 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His curveball is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth, but it can hang and it can also flash slider like movement. He has zero command of his stuff and appears to try and nibble, living on the corners and at the knees. Not a major league pitcher.

6th: FB (90-93), CB (80-83)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (81-83)

4) Miguel Batista: 24 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties and a cutter with good cut and some late sink that will flash movement like a 2-7 slider.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (86-89)

9th: FB (91-94), Cut (88)

5) Greg Burke: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• He came from a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. His fastball showed good run in on righties and some sink and his slider was a flat 2-7 with marginal bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

6) Edward Mujica: 3 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a splitter with good dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92), Split (86), SL (81)

7) Heath Bell: 29 Pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Both on Curveballs.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run and sink and a 12-7 curve with great depth. He was leaving his curve up and left his fastball in the middle of the plate, a terrible combination.

9th: FB (91-96), CB (79-83)

• Everth Cabrera is a 5-10, 175 pound 22 year old. The switch hitter/righty thrower has a small frame that can add a little more muscle, but not too much. As a righty, he leans back on his back leg with a slightly bent front leg that is similar to Gerardo Parra's stance but not as upright. His trigger is a slight cocking of the bat and a step to straighten himself out, as he is slightly open. From the left side, his stance is similar, but no leaned back as far or open as much. Shows a somewhat quick bat, but one designed to slap the ball around. Plus runner that will look to bunt for hits, he stole 2 bases back to back and was 3.0 from 2nd to 3rd on his steal and neither time was close to getting caught. Best case is a Chone Figgins like career. Worse case is Luis Ugueto. He probably settles in the middle as a super utility guy who can play SS and will hit for little power.
• Kyle Blanks is a massive 6-6, 285 pound righty hitter/thrower. The 22 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He has a fairly straight on stance and he holds the bat in front of him and a little in front of his back shoulder. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. He looks like a guy that will struggle to hit plus fastballs and his swing can get a little long. He has a fly ball swing, a terrible fit for PETCO. He has a tendency to roll his wrists too early, causing would-be line drives to turn into groundouts to short. He showed better speed then I anticipated, as he was 4.3 and 4.4 down the line to first. He is in a bad situation, as he isn't going to beat out Adrian Gonzalez at 1st and is trying to play LF. He DH'd in this game. He should be a productive hitter down the road, but think Kevin Kouzmanoff type production, not Adam Dunn. PETCO will be a serious obstacle for him to try and overcome.

Syracuse Football Adds Another

The Orange have picked up a verbal commitment from Mario Tull, a 6-1 205 pound safety/linebacker. Tull had no other offers and was receiving interest from Hofstra University. Awesome.

For those of you keeping track at home, here is Syracuse 2010 recruiting class with their other offers:

LB/S: Tull: None
OL: Macky Macpherson: None
QB: John Kinder: None
LB: Myles Davis: Rutgers

Either Doug Marrone is incredibly gifted at finding (and quickly convincing) sleepers to attend Syracuse or we are in for another long 4 years. Still has the benefit of the doubt, but if we open like we did against Washington 2 years ago on national TV, might as well kiss our pipe dreams of some of these guys away.

Revisiting May Trades

Can't sleep yet, so let's take a quick gander at some trades made in May and see how they have turned out thus far.

Mets Get: Lance Broadway
White Sox Get: Ramon Castro

I have always liked Castro and haven't quite understood Jerry Manuel's love affair with Omir Santos, but Castro is just 2-14 since joining the Sox. But, Broadway is just 1-1 with a 6.32 in the IL with Buffalo with 9 walks against 7 K's.

Verdict: No One Wins.

Brewers Get: Jody Gerut
Padres Get: Tony Gwynn Jr.

I will admit I thought the Brewers ripped them off. Honestly, if you look at the fact they could have had Gwynn for free after being placed on waivers, they did. But, Gwynn has been a bright spot in his first 92 at bats, putting up a line of .348-.439-.467 while providing good defense in CF. The Brewers were desperate for a bench bat with a pulse, and they may still be looking, as Gerut has hit a miniscule .107 (3-28) since joining the Brewers.

Verdict: Shockingly, Padres

Yankees Get: Romulo Sanchez
Pirates Get: Eric Hacker

Here at TK's Baseball Blog, we don't discriminate against trades. Sanchez has been a 4-A reliever since I can remember and has put up a 3.24 ERA at AAA. He still has command issues though, working 8.1 IP and walking 6 while striking out 8. Hacker, meanwhile, has been dominant at Indianapolis and putting himself in position to be a starter for Pittsburgh later this season. The righty is 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in 6 starts in AAA, though he has a WHIP of 1.50, so those numbers are obviously going to last. In 34 innings, he has 19 walks against 19 strikeouts.

Verdict: First one to the big leagues wins.

Orioles Get: Joey Gathright
Cubs Get: Ryan Freel

Joey Gathright is hitting an other worldly .339 with the Tides and is putting himself in position if the Orioles ever decide to end the Felix Pie experiment and let him get regular at bats at AAA (.202-.279-.319 average in majors, in just 94 at bats). Ryan Freel was hitting just .167 with the Cubs before going down with an injury.

Verdict: Orioles, by default.

PHI @ TB

1) David Price: 88 pitches, 4 Strike Swingings. All on Fastballs. 3 in 1st Inning, 1 in 3rd Inning

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp
  11-5 slider that had good bite, an 11-5 curveball that was a big breaker and a
  straight change that flashes sink. He was leaving his slider up (and it
  flattened out) and his fastball didn't have its typical oomph. His defense
  also let him down.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (85-88), CB (81), CU (84-85)

2nd: FB (91-94), CB (78)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (86), CB (75-79)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (82-87)

5th: FB (89-93), SL (83-87)

2) Jamie Moyer: 101 pitches. 6 Strikes Swinging. 5 on Fastballs (1 in 2nd, 3 in 4th, 1 in 5th) and 1 on a changeup (2nd)

• He came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release with a fastball that is a 2-seam with good fade and sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth, a change with some fade and sink and a cutter that is a slider like 11-4 pitch.

1st: FB (80-81), CB (68-69), CU (74)

2nd: FB (81), CU (73-74)

3rd: FB (79-82), CB (67-69), CU (73-75), Cut (78)

4th: FB (79-81), CB (68-69), CU (73-75), Cut (76-78)

5th: FB (78-81), CU (72-74), Cut (77-78)

6th: FB (78-80), CB (66-68), CU (72-73), Cut (76)

3) Winston Abreu: 41 pitches. 6 Strikes Swinging. 5 on Sliders (4 in 5th, 1 in 6th) and 1 on a fastball (7th)

• He is a 6-2, 170 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. He leans back and goes forward and goes up in the air a little bit with a drop and drive. Windmill like action. His slider is a 1-7 pitch with solid bite, though it can flatten out or be very sharp. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and his change is a straight offering. He has good command of his slider, but struggles to command his other pitches. Tweener pitcher, as his velocity began to drop the longer he pitched, but I don't know if he is a 1 inning guy or not.

5th: FB (93), SL (81-85)

6th: FB (90-93), SL (79-85), CU (84)

7th: FB (89-92), SL (82-84), CU (85)

4) Tyler Walker: 27 pitches. 0 Strikes Swinging.

• He comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade and sink. 4-A arm now.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (79-83), CU (78)

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82-83), CU (78)

5) Lance Cormier: 31 Pitches. 2 Strikes Swinging on cutters (1 in 8th, 1 in 9th).

• Cormier is a 6-1, 200 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and shows a cutter with solid cut and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth that may be able to be a strikeout pitch and a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties. Solid long-man, don't expect a whole lot more and he is pitching a little over his head right now.

8th: Cut (85-87), CB (76-77), FB (87)

9th: Cut (85-87), CB (76-77)

6) Sergio Escalona: 14 Pitches. 0 Strikes Swinging

• Escalona is a 6-0, 170 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His change is a straight change that looks like a fastball out of his hand. His curve is an 11-5 pitch with good depth and may be able to be a strike out pitch. 2nd lefty in a pen is his upside in my opinion and he shows solid velocity for a lefty.

9th: FB (89-91), CB (77-80), CU (79-82)

Oswalt vs. Hochevar for a score tomorrow in addition to a chart.

80-89 Re Eval

Following changes were made:



Julian Tavarez '98 Result changed to Somewhat Worse (31) from Somewhat Worse

Doug Jones '99 Result changed from N/A, N/A to Same, Better

Jim Mecir '99 Result changed from Somewhat Worse in 3 True Outcomes to Worse (145)

Rod Beck '99 Result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (65) in 3 True Outcomes

Juan Acevedo '01 Result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (40) in 3 True Outcomes

Billy Wagner '04 Result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (75)

Mike DeJean '04 Result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (34)

Octavio Dotel '05 Result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (135)

Justin Duchscherer '06 Result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47)

Duaner Sanchez '06 Result changed from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (63), Worse

> 90 IP Re-Eval

The Following changes were made:

Doug Jones Added to 1999

Derek Lowe Added to 1999

Jim Brower Added to 2003

Heath Bell Added to 2007

Sean Lowe '99 Result Changed from Somewhat Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to starts

Rick White '00 Result Changed from Somewhat Better in 3 True Outcomes to Somewhat Worse (37)

Salomon Torres '07 Result Changed from Somewhat Better/Worse to Worse (73), Worse.

Dry Blog

As you can tell, with frames being continually entered (and me only doing it the first time I see someone) the reports are beginning to look a little dry.

If you haven't figured out the blog, I tag both the teams and all the players (that it lets me) and you can click that tag and it will bring up all the ones with the same tag (click a player that had no frame for that day and it will take you to all the reports about him and you can get info on his frame).

Obviously, this blog will need something new, as I will only be seeing more and more pitchers for multiple times and I am still wondering what I would add. Have thought about times to 1st on grounders, as well as pop times.

Is there something along the lines of scouting that you would like to see this blog add? Feel free to post a comment, as no one reads this anyways so it is pretty much anonymous.

TOR @ WAS

• Ricky Romero comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball had good run and sink and some run in on lefties. His change shows good fade and sink and is his best off-speed pitch. It is his out pitch and flashes excellent sink. It looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider can be loopy/slurvy or it can be sharp and somewhat resemble his change. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 with good depth. Solid # 3 starter who could be a 2.

1st: FB (89-93), CU (82-85), SL (81-82)

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (82-87), CB (76-79)

3rd: FB (89-93), CU (83-85), SL (81-84), CB (75-77)

4th: FB (90-93), CU (84), CB (76)

5th: FB (91-93), CU (83-85), SL (83-85), CB (78)

6th: FB (88-93), CU (80-84), CB (74-79)

7th: FB (89-94), CU (82-84), SL (83-85), CB (76)

• Shairon Martis came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good run and sink, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand until it drops off the table and it shows excellent sink and some fade, though it can be inconsistent and a 2-7 slider with some bite. His command can be erratic and he is no better then a # 4 starter for both now and the future.

1st: FB (88-93), SL (82-83), CU (81-87)

2nd: FB (86-90), SL (84-86), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (88-91), SL (84), CU (82)

4th: FB (86-90), SL (81-83), CU (79-83)

5th: FB (87-91), SL (86), CU (80-82)

• Jesus Colome came from a 3/4 release with a fairly straight 4-seam fastabll that flashed some late run to righties and a 2-7 slider with okay bite. Could pitch for the Nats, Padres and maybe Indians.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (84-89)

• Kip Wells came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some late run and sink. His change is a straight change with some sink that he will throw to righties. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with some bite.

7th: FB (92-94), CU (85-87), SL (85-86)

8th: FB (91-94), CU (86-87)

• Jeremy Accardo came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good fade and sink. After battling his way back from injury and the minors, he went down with what appeared to be maybe a back injury to my un trained eye.

8th: FB (92-93)

• Brandon League came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run and some sink and a split with great dive that is his out pitch. He is an enigma, as he has swing and miss stuff but struggles to consistently get hitters out.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (83-85)

• Joel Hanrahan came from an over the top release and struggled. His fastball is a straight 4-seam, his slider is a 2-7 pitch that has flattened out and his change is a straight change with some sink. I still like him due to his fastball velocity, but his slider needs to come back.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (82-85), CU (85)

• Jesse Carlson also struggled. The sidearming lefty showed a fastball with good late sink and a 10-5 slider with good downward bite. He also threw a change with some fade and sink. He left too many belt high fastballs in to the Nats hitters and they made him pay.

9th: FB (87-89), SL (78-81), CU (82)

• Jason Frasor comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball that flashes some run and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

9th: FB (94-95), SL (85-86)

Off tomorrow. We play the other supposed top team in our baseball league for the 1st of 3 straight times tomorrow.

Chart Observations: TEX @ SF

• Matt Cain is a 6-3, 245 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release primarily, but will be anywhere between over the top and 3/4. His fastball shows some run and a little sink. His curveball is a power 12-6 with good depth that can be a strikeout pitch. His change has excellent fade and sink and is a pitch he will throw to righties. He also throws a hard slider that is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. It appears his arm can occasionally lag behind his delivery and he does have some command issues (but not control issues). He tends to pitch to the middle of the plate as opposed to the corners. Cain is a strong # 2 right now, as all his pitches are at least above average, but I want to see more consistent command before I call him an ace.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (88), CU (86-87), CB (77-78)

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (89), CU (88), CB (76)

3rd: FB (91-96), SL (88), CU (89), CB (77)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (86), CB (76)

5th: FB (91-95), CU (89), CB (75-78)

6th: FB (93-95), SL (86-88), CU (87-88), CB (75-80)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (89), CU (86-87)

8th: FB (92-94), SL (87), CU (86)

• Derek Holland is a 6-2, 185 pound lefty. The 22 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 205 at least. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a classic drop and drive delivery. He has a Bronson Arroyo type leg kick and has a very quiet delivery until right before release and he has a little bit of a head jerk. His fastball has good run in on righties and a little sink. His change is a straight change with some late sink and fade. His curveball is a 11-4 with good bite and it can be sharp or a get me over pitch. His slider is a flat, sharp 10-4 pitch that can show good bite, but is usually below average. Holland is currently a # 4 or # 5 starter, as he has no consistent off speed pitch or great command (probably right around average). However, he is a guy with a bright future (barring injury). He projects to be at least a strong # 2 or a closer. I think he settles in the back of a bullpen.

1st: FB (94-96), CU (84)

2nd: FB (93-96), CB (78-79), SL (81)

3rd: FB (92-95), CB (77-79), SL (85)

4th: FB (92-93)

5th: FB (91-96), CU (82-85), CB (74-78)

6th: FB (91-95), CB (73)

7th: FB (92-95), CU (84), CB (78), SL (84-86)

• Frank Francisco is a 6-3, 230 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a classic drop and drive delivery. His fastball shows good run and sink. His split shows excellent late dive and is a plus pitch. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. Francisco is a very underrated closer who can run into the occasional control problem. He is an above average major league closer.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (84-86), CB (76)

• Darren O'Day is a sidearming righty who featured a fastball with good sink and run and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (85-86), SL (76-78)

• Brian Wilson comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball with a little run and a cutter with good cut and some sink and can move like a sharp 2-7 slider at times.

9th: FB (96-97), Cut (89-92)

10th: FB (96-98), Cut (89-91)

• Jason Jennings is a 6-2, 235 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and has some bad weight, as his thighs are gargantuan and look to rub together as he walks. He comes from an over the top release. His arm action raises some concerns to me, as he almost throws with a straight arm and looks like he puts a lot of strain on his shoulder. His fastball shows above average sink and run. His slider is a 1-7 offering with good bite that can look like a curveball at times. Solid middle reliever for however long he can stay healthy. I wouldn't count on him for a full season due to his body and arm action.

10th: FB (88), SL (80-82)

11th: FB (88-89), SL (81-82)

• Sergio Romo comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that shows some run and flashes plus run and a 2-7 slider with some bite that is a latebreaker and stays on the same plane as his fastball until it breaks. He is pitching a little over his head right now and will likely be returning to earth shortly. Solid middle reliever, but not a guy who won't walk guys or be a set-up guy.

11th: FB (88-90), SL (76-78)

• Brandon Boggs made a pinch hit appearance and is a 5-11, 205 pound 26 year old. The switch hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that is maxed out and may have some bad weight and is another Ranger that has very big thighs. As a lefty, he has a slightly open stance where he stands fairly straight up with some bat wiggle. His trigger is a small step with weight shifting back and cocking of the bat. He struck out.